Two men intent on an evangelistic mission may find themselves in a legal debate over First Amendment rights following several confrontations with Kutztown University public safety officials.

Scott Catino of Allentown and Joseph Frey of Coopersburg, both born-again Christians, spent several hours in Berks County Prison Thursday after being arrested at the campus on outstanding warrants.

The warrants stem from three incidents that occurred on campus over the past month and were allegedly related to their preaching.

Catino, a senior at United Wesleyan College, and Frey, who describes himself as a layman with a gift of evangelism, said they were cited for disorderly conduct and criminal trespass on Feb. 20 as they preached on a grassy expanse near the campus dining hall.

Both men said they preach on their own accord and not as representatives of any church or organization.

Catino said it was the second time the pair had preached in the area. They were warned to stop both times, he said, but continued, claiming a First Amendment right to free speech.

A week later, Catino and Frey were cited for harassment after several students complained of their activities.

Reno Unger, director of public relations for the campus, said one complaint was filed by a Jewish student who claimed Catino told him he would go to hell if he did not give up his beliefs and embrace Christ.

He added that students also had complained of being obstructed and accosted as they tried to enter buildings.

Catino, however, said the gist of his preaching was that that whoever does not accept Jesus Christ will burn in hell. He said he did not single any one student out at the time.

Both men cited and denied the truth of a second student complaint that Frey tried to force a Bible tract on a female student.

Those complaints resulted in citations for harassment. Catino and Frey said complaints are to be expected.

"Whenever you talk about sin you're going to upset people. . . . I will come right out and say homosexuality and premarital sex are sins, but if people give Christ a total commitment, He will purify their heart of sin," Catino said.

Frey added, "I feel in these last days before Jesus Christ comes back Christians should do all they can to spread the Good News and to warn people if they continue to reject Christ they will spend eternity in a place called Hell - and it's a reality."

The men said they went to Berks County District Magistrate Gail Greth with the citations the day they were charged with harassment.

After pleading not guilty to all counts, the two said they reached an agreement with Greth to pay $50 each toward court costs within two weeks.

Catino, as a student, and Frey, who is unemployed, both claimed financial hardship. The usual assessment, they said, is $50 for each citation.

On Thursday, the day the fines were to be paid, both were arrested on warrants for failing to respond to the original citations. Catino said he had not paid the $50 but claimed his not guilty pleas were the necessary responses.

Catino said they were taken before Magistrate Greth in a Temple, Berks County, office, and committed to the county prison after they could not post $100.

Greth could not be reached for comment last night.

He and Frey said they spent their hours in jail preaching to inmates before they were bailed out by friends and relatives.

Unger, who described the men as "super polite, nice kids," said he tried to put the pair in touch with a campus Bible-oriented organization to secure sponsorship.

He said he also explained the men could preach on public streets but not on campus grounds. Several roads run through the campus.

Frey said he and Catino met with the Intervarsity Christian Fellowship and "they were just undecided as to whether at this time they would sponsor us." They continued to preach in the interim.

Last night, Catino said he is in the process of securing legal counsel for a March 21 hearing before Greth on the disorderly conduct and trespass charges. Frey said he will have to be represented by a public defender.